Photos by Kevin Nagle
The Bryant White Hornets eighth grade team of Bryant Middle School put together runs to start each half in their opener against the Vilonia Eagles Monday night. The first one established an 11-3 lead. The second put the game away. The result was a 41-16 victory.
Kaevon Jones gets a shot away inside. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Nine different players contributed to the scoring. Tristan Calhoun finished with a team-high 11. Kaevon Jones added 8 and Brandon Hill 5.
The Hornets scrimmage at the first Tip-Off Night this evening then return to action with a Central Arkansas Junior High Conference game at home against Conway Blue on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Jones and Hill worked a nice give-and-go for the first basket of the night. Calhoun’s running jumper and a layup by Jones made it 6-0 before Vilonia’s Tyson Wertz broke the ice for his team with a free throw.
Calhoun fed Jones for a basket inside and it was 8-1. Before the opening quarter was done, Jeremy Kendall hit a basket inside for the Eagles and it was a 5-point game going into the second period.
Hill extended that margin with a free throw then Brandon Hopkins nailed a 12-footer to complete the 11-3 run.
Sparked by a three-point play from Jacob Herberger, the Eagles got it as close as 11-7 but Calhoun drained a 3 with 1:58 left in the half and the Hornets were up 13-8 at the break.
The second half began with a 10-0 run by Bryant. Jake Forst hit two free throws and Calhoun canned a shot as the Hornets jumped into a press. Vilonia had to have a timeout at the 5:23 mark to try to settle things down but, when play resumed, Brooks Ellis made a steal for the Hornets and Calhoun fed Forst for a layup to make it 19-8.
Tristan Calhoun looks to score. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Hill scored off a Calhoun feed then Jones scored inside to complete the run.
Two free throws by Caleb Johnson interrupted for Vilonia but Calhoun drained a 12-footer, Ellis and Forst combined on a steal and Jones hit the boards for a basket to make it 27-10.
On baskets by Calhoun, James Polite, Grayson Prince and Brandon Murray, the lead grew to 38-14 late in the fourth quarter. Noah Heston scored for Vilonia then a free throw by John Butler and a layup for Murray set the final margin in the final minute.
BRYANT WHITE 41, VILONIA 16
Score by quarters
Vilonia 3 5 6 2 — 16
Bryant White 8 5 23 5 — 41
VILONIA 16
Johnson 1-5 2-2 4, Wertz 1-3 1-2 3, Kendall 1-6 1-2 3, Lamp 0-0 0-0 0, Janski 0-0 0-0 0, Malott 0-2 0-0 0, Neely 0-2 0-0 0, Heston 1-2 0-0 2, McKnight0-4 0-0 0, McNespy 0-0 1-2 0, Pate 0-1 0-0 0, Herberger 1-3 1-1 3, Forrier 0-1 0-1 0, Arrendoll 0-2 0-2 0, Simpson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 5-33 6-12 16.
BRYANT WHITE 41
Calhoun 5-12 1-2 11, Hill 2-8 1-2 5, Forst 1-2 2-2 4, Ellis 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 4-5 0-2 8, Hopkins 1-2 0-0 2, Prince 1-2 0-1 2, Schmidt 0-0 0-0 0, Polite 1-1 2-2 4, Murray 2-6 0-0 4, Ash 0-0 0-0 0, Shepard 0-0 0-0 0, Dupree 0-1 0-0 0, Pittman 0-0 0-0 0, Butler 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 17-39 7-13 41.
Three-point field goals: Bryant White 0-5 (Calhoun 0-3, Murray 0-2), Vilonia 0-6 (Johnson 0-2, Kendall 0-2, Janski 0-1, McKnight 0-1). Rebounds: Bryant White 27 (Ellis 6, Jones 4), Vilonia 24 (Janski 4). Turnovers: Bryant White 15, Vilonia 19. Team fouls: Bryant White 16, Vilonia 8.
Bryant’s Brandon Hopkins shoots over Vilonia’s Trey McNespy. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
